- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, Arun Mozhi
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Maamiyar Veedu
- Movie release year
- 1993
- Lyrics added on
- 29 Mar 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from 'Maamiyar Veedu' (1993) delivers a cynical, worldly-wise message about survival in modern society ('Kali Yuga'). Written with Vaali's signature street-smart flair, the speaker advises his friend to abandon naive innocence and moral rigidity in favor of clever trickery. The lyrics argue that the contemporary world exploits the innocent and rewards the crafty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Kaalam kali kaalam nallavarkku nashtam / Innorutthan kaasil vaazhuradhaa kashtam”
The words 'nashtam' (loss) and 'kashtam' (difficulty) rhyme at the end of lines 5 and 6, reinforcing the cynical tone.
Idiomatic Expression / Metaphor
“Joraaga poo suthu haei”
'Poo suthu' (literally 'wrap flowers') is a popular Tamil slang idiom meaning to trick, dupe, or deceive someone smoothly.
Cultural Metaphor / Idiom
“Un thalaiyil veppaanae molagaaya daei”
'Grinding/placing chili on one's head' is a classic Tamil idiom representing extreme exploitation or making a fool of an unsuspecting innocent person.
Historical Allusion
“Nalla padi vaazhandha gaandhikkenna aachu / Suttu puttaan paaru poyiduchu moochu”
Refers to Mahatma Gandhi's fate as a tragic real-world example to illustrate the argument that ultimate goodness is not rewarded in the current era.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Maamiyar Veedu' (1993) featured music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by the prolific Vaali. Vaali was renowned for seamlessly weaving local Tamil slang, colloquial idioms, and contemporary social satire into philosophical songs, making complex worldly advice accessible and catchy for the masses.
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